Internal-combustion engine.



P G N E A N R E T N I 4 sums-43mm A?PLIOATIOI FILED APB. 2.1907.

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1505/ Mme/2 mm WITNESSES ATTORNEYS PATBNTED FEB. 11, 1908. R. S. THOMPSON. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION TILED APB. 2.1907. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

If 05 Afl zom vsan, HY H ATTO fl/VEYS WITNESSES PATBNTBD FEB. 11, 1908.

R. S. THOMPSON.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. I

APPLIATXOI FILED Pl. 2.1907.

I v 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

VIII. E 7' v 20 14 d O ,W/TNESSES I i/WENTOH r ATTOHNEXS' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

7 nor s. 'rnonrsos, or cmoao'o, rumor mssmncoamusnon mzcnm.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that 1, R01 'ln'osrrsos, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of (.ook and State of Illinois, have invsntrd chew and Improved Internal-Combustion Engine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. This invention rclatos to certain improvcments in intcmal combustion engines, and more particularly to nuans whcrclw an l-xplosion may l)(-.. \,l)l&'illl((l in the ('Nlindcr at every revolution of the crank shalt and the cylinder complctciy scawngcd of the exhaust gases bel'orc ouch fresh charge is admitted.

My invention rclatcs more spccially to moans whcrchy two cylinders may be. used in. con'unction, one cm! of var-l1 cylindcr-constitut mg the compression rim m bc-r and the other end of each cylinder constituting the ex )losion or working chamber, and the two cy inders so connected together that the gas compn'sscd in one cylinder transferred to the. other cylinder and after being ignited is can-- ploycd for operating the piston thoroin. In this mount-r l dcliverr two impulses to tho crank shaft during ouch row-lotion thin-mil and simultunomisly compress the gas to as high a. point as may be desired bciorc i nd ing the some; all by the use of but two cy indcrs constructed and opcmtcd as herein. tcr dcscrihcd.

The invention Q-OfiSib'lS in certain features of construction and combination of parts, all of which will in fully not forth hvroinultcr and particularly point'cd out in tho claims.

licl'oroncc is to he had to the :n-rwmqmny ing drawings forming a a rt of this spccilicali n. in which similar clmractcrs of reference indicutr corresponding parts in all the ligurcs, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of an engine constructed according to my invention, a portion of each fly whorl and a portion of the inlet romlllil living broken away; Fig. 2 s a sidc clcvatiou of my improved rngino, ono fly whccl lu-mg l1 muvwl Fig. 3 is an owl vu-w; lug. -1- is '11 control lltll'lzmlinl :evctum through the two ryliudors and tho coGm-ra ting parts; Fig. 5 is a central vertical sci-Lion through one of tho cylindorhoads and the rm'ipcruting port-controlling mcmlu-r; Fig. 6.

is an cud \'l('\\ of tho port-controlling momlx-r shown in Fig. 5; big. 7 is a h'tl'l hm similar to Fi film! takcn through the otlu-r cylindor: big. 8 is a viow".-:in.iilnr to Fig. 6, but illust rm iug tho portwontrolli ng rncmbcr u 's ed Speciflction of Lott-era Patent.

Application filcri April 2. 1907- Sarial Io. mass.

radar-a. lab. 11, ma

in connection with the second cylinder; and Fig. 9 is a disqammatic section illustrating more complete y the arrangement of ports and passages and the method of operation.

In my improved engine I provide two cylinders 10 and 1-1 mounted upon a suitable frame and is provided with two cranks 19 whereby the pistons 13 and 14 which are rods may more in unison'but alwa in the opposite direction. The crank t 15 support! a fly wheel 21 upon one and-thereof and any suitable means, as, for instance, a pulley 22 may ho mounted upon the opposite end, whereby the power gsneratod may be utilized for any desired purpose. v The cylinders may be cooled in any suitable manner,

or as shown b means of radiati surrounding t a same and serving to radiate the heat to the atmosphere. of the cylinders servestocause a circulation of air and this aids in the cooling sfl'cct. Each cylinder is provided with a detachable cylinder head 24 rigidly secured thereto and supporting it suits. )le packing box 25 surrounding the corrawpondmgplston rod 20.

For controlling the flow o fluidsto .and from the c linders, I provide the head of each cylimer adjacent the journal pins 16 with u semi-cylindrical section 26 havi its outer surface lying in the arc of a circle having a center with the journal pins 16. The surface of this semi-0y indrical portion 26 thus rolnainsin the arc of the same circle at all times during the oscillation of the cylinder. Extending throughthe cylinder i hood and tho sonu-cylindncal portion or Pcurved section 26, I provide a loading from the interiorof the 8( scent and of the cylinder to tho curved'surfaco and extending longitudinally through the wall operatively connected thereto by the piston- Eassage 27.

frame l2'and having pistons 13 and 14 set at an angle of degrees to each other,

as, for instance, by means of water jackets,

ngflangss 23 so The oscillation j gin of the cylinder and the curved section, and

' communicating with the cylinder at its oppounder side thereo while thecorres ending passage of the other cylinder exten 5 along the upper side. The passages or onduits 27 serve to permit the entrance of the expanded gas. to the working space of the cylinders and permit the escape of. the exhaust gases therefrom, while the pass es or conduits 28 serve for the delivery of t e explosive mixture to the opposite or comprefion end of each cylinder and the escape of the charge after it has been compressed therein.

Mounted within the engine frame and in ment with the curved end of each er, I provide two port-controlling members 29 and 30, each having a concave surface a lapted-to fit and engage with the curved surface of the section 26 of the corresponding cylinder. Each.of the port-con trolling members is provided with aplurality of pass! gee leading to and from the concave surface and acapted to communicate with the passages 27 and 28 of the cylinders as the atter are oscillated. Each port-controlling m n bet is provided with twopasassage 27 and two pissages' to communicate with the correpted - sponding pasaage 28, and these several pas- "8" hereinafter described: Lech is provided with flanges 31 holding the portcontro members from lateral movement and a suitable {o'ke 32 is provided havi one end thereo in engagement with sec of the port-controlling members-adjacent its center and having a centrally disposed bolt 33 passing through an opening in the engine frame. A suita le nut 34 is provided for the inner end of the bolt and between this nut and the engine frame I provide a strong coil spring 35 tending to draw the yoke into firm engagement with both of the port-controlling members andholding said members in firm engagement with the ends of their respective cylinders. The port-controlling member 30 is provided with a as-i'. sage 36 leading from the upper an ace thereof to such a point on the concave surface that it may register with the passage 28 sages to communicate with thev .3.'" P

when the opposite end of the cylinder 11 is moved to a position below the level of the journal pins, but be prevented from registering therewith when the cylinder is in a hlprizontal position or the opposite end of t e mem r 30- is also provided with a passage 37 leading from the outer flat surface to such a point on the concave surface that itcomcgimder is raised. The port-controlling municates with the passage 28 of the cylinder 11 when the op osite end of the c linder is rifised above t e horizontal. e lower poi'tion of the port-controlling member 30 is provided'with a pass e 38 communicating with the passage 2 of t e c linder when the opposite end of aid cylin er is below the hori ontal, and low the p 38 is a 39 communicati with t e passage 2750f the cylinder when t e opposite end of thelatter is raised.-

( i'hie passages of the port-controlling mem-' ber 29 are somewhat similar to those of the member 30, but extend in a somewhat different direction due to the differences in the relative locations of the passages 27 and 28 of port-controlling member 29 leads from the top of the member to such a point that'it may communicate with a passage 28 of the cylinder 10 when the opposite end of the latter is depressed, thus operating similarly to the passage 36 of the member 30. The passage 37 corres of the other member but leads to t e bottom ofthe member rather than to the flat outer surface thereof. The passage 38 leads from a point on the surface of the member 30 exactly correspond to the outlet. from the passage 38 but le ing to the upper portion of the member where it may communicate with the p 27 of the cylinder. The passage 39 of t e member 29 corresponds to -the cylinder 10. The passage 36" of the ponds'with the assage 37 the upper portion .of the flat outer surface rather than to the bottom of the member as does the passage 39. j

A suitable conduit 40 is provided having 'radiat' fl es 41 and havi its ends so conetrl i c tedl at it may be r fdily secured tothe flat surface of each of themembers 29 and 30 and place the passage 37 of the member 30 in communication with the 39 of the member 29. A second conduit 42 is provided similaato the'conduit 40 and also ha radiatingfi es and means whereby it 1:1 be secured me members 29 and 30. This conduit 42 is secured to the lower curved surface of each member and serves, to place" the assage 39 of the member 30 in -commumcation with the passage 37 of the member 29. Each of these conduits is provided with a suitable opening 43 n which is secured conduit 40 and somewhat similar thereto I any suitable form of ignit or, as, for instance, a spark plug. Disposed directly below the v 6. The 45 ton in traveling through the return stre into so the conduit 42:; the piston 13 in the t provide a conduit 44 rigidly secured to each of the port-=controlling members and communicating with the conduits 38 and 38'. Intermediate the endsof this conduit I provide a suitable branch 45 serving as a common exhaust from both cylinders. Bisdiametrically o posits from the conuit 42 is. a conduit 4 communicating with the passages 36 and 36 and having a'branch 47 .serving as a cnimon inlet for the two cylinders.

In order to more clearly illustrate the o' 'tion of.my improved engine, I have s own in Fig. 9 of the drawi a diagrammatic representation of the cy inders, portcontrol members and the several conduits, an in order that the corresmnding portions ma be readilidentified, t same reference char tors ave been applied.

:6 "With the parts in the position illustrated in I the di a movement of the crank shaft would raw the piston 13 toward the lefthand end of. the cylinder and would raise the outer end. This inclination of the cylinder as- -would place the port 27 of the cylinder in communication with the passage 39 and would place the passage 28 of this cylinder in communication with the 37'. At this time the gas within t conduit is so and the pressure is communicated tly to the piston and it is forced toward .the outer end. This outward movement of the piston com the gas in the space 'between'it and the head 24 and the 'com-'-- 35 gas passes out the 28 and 7' into the conduit 42. As the piston reaches the end; of its stroke the hnder is again returned to the ition in icated in t diagfam and a furt er rr vement of the s crank s aft lowers the outer end of the cyl-- md'er below the horisontal, and the tpaanage pas- ' 27 is aced'in'communication with is? and the passage'28is laced in comm cation with the draws in a fresh supply of uncompressed explosive mixture through the conduits 47 and 46 and 36 and 28, and the exhaust gas in the op to end of the cylinder so is forced out throug the 27 and 38" and tihe conlduitls 44 and 45. pon cplznpletingt ecyce't e'partsareagainint i tion indicated in ig. 3 and the process 1 1:0

mted. Meanwhile, a similar series of sticks.

been going'on in the cylinder 11'. e

. gas compressed in this cyhnder and forced out through the v 28 is delivered to 1 the conduit 40 to be ignited and utilised in the cylinder 10,- and the com 'inder 10 is igni and expanded t piston 14 of the cylinder 11. As he at each revolution of the crank shaft, two

explosions take place, one in the conduit 42 as when the latter is.in communication with the ing or closing of the proper ports.

eratively moun cylinder 11, and the other in the conduit 40 when it is in communication with the cyl-' inder l0. Two im lses are thus given to the crank shaft, an at each work stroke of each piston the chairs of explosive mix- 79 ture is compressed for elivery to the.oppo-' site cylinder.

ep ofgastcandfromeachendof each cylinder is controlled entirely automatically, there being no complicated valve mech-' a anism tostickorgetoutof order. Aswillbe' noted, it is impossible for the crank shaft to turn without shooting a correspond oscillation of both of the c linders, and oscillation must necessarily result in t zopenso tune at which the various ports are c or closed may be readily controlled by varying the location of the ends of the co ndmg' passages ofthe curved surfaces, an 'the extent to which the is compressed may be readily controlled y varying the or'ths' location cf'the conduits 40 and 42, 1 as substantially the entire compressed charge is held within these conduits until the m a leading to the ropes cylinder is opened the comp is -It is evident that cylinders need not be arranged'inslag-allel butmay,ifdedred,hs arranged in ement and connected-tony as. aratscrankshaftqlmttheillustratsdccsr. structicn a pears to be his. Various may "made in the form and construction and within the scoped the a pendedblaims, but without departingfrom e. spirit of my invention. Having thus described my invention, I gaimtnsnewand desire tosecurebybtters aten a 1. An interns. combustion engine, com- 1 prising a mcva c piston operattherem said der having a ccmrmnnca' wi wd m d m a stationary port-con mem r in engagement with said inder and having two separate conduitsted to communicate witheaohofsaid passages, the cpmmumcaticn between said and sa d conduits beggdeterminsd y thspcsiticnctssidcylm nsingaplurah cylindemapistcu p withineachcylindsneze h ofsaidpistcns-ada ted tocompresssfuel' chargeuponcnesi ofthefplistcnandtobe moved bythe 'tion ofa el upon theopcsitesi thsreof,'meansf9r verginder to another cylinder u the ignitionsideofthepiatonthe andaportcontrc ,memberforeachcyhnderfcrccntrolling admission and exhaust ct gas frombothendstherecn' -3; An internal'ccmbustmn sngme, comprising-a -d-cfimdsrs, pistons lono '-eredtobei I cated therein and adapted to com ress a fuel cha upon one side thereof an be moved by e ignition of a fuel charge upon the opposite side thereof, means connecting said pistons whereby they operate simultaneousl one piston being upon the exhaust stro e at the time another piston is upon the explosion and compression stroke, means whereby the fuel charge com ressed in the compression space of each cy mder is delivited in anothercylinder and a ort-contro ing member for each cylinder or controlling the admission and exhaust of gas from both ends thereof.

4. An internal combustion engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders, each having a piston operating therein, means connecting said pistons whereb they operate simultaneously, each of sai cylinders having a passage communicating with each end thereof,

' a and a pluralit of conduits adapted to communicate wi each of said assages, said conduits being so arranged at gas compressed in one end of each cylinder may be dcllivered to the opposite end of another cylim er.

5. An internal combustion engine, comprising two cylinders, pistons operating therein, means connect: said pistons whereby they operate simu taneously, each of said cylinders having separate assages leading to the opposite ends thereo a portcontrolling mem r in engagement with each cylinder and having separate passages adapted to be placed in communication with the passagesof the cylinder, and a pluralit of conduits. connecting rt-contro ing members, whereby the he charge comre ssed in one cylinder may e ,delivered for gritionagainst the'piston of the other cylm er. a

6. An internal combustion engine, comprising two pivotally mounted cyhnders,

pistons operating therein, means whereby said istons operate simultaneously in op site irections, each 'of said cylinders havi passages communicating with each en thereof, means whereby the oscillation of each cylinder controls the flow of gas through said pass es, and conduits connecting each end of eac cylinder with the opposite end of the other cylinder.

7. An internal combustion engine, wzom-' prisi a plurality of pivotally ,mounted cg'lim crs, each having a piston operating t crein, means connectin said pistons whereby the operate simu tanously," each of said cylinders having a passage communi eating with each end thereof, and two separate conduits adapted to communicate with each of said passages, said condmts being so arranged that gas compressedin one end of each cylinder may be 1 eliverod to the-opposite end of another cylinder.

8; An internal comhustion engine, come'lsple inders, each having a iston operating therein,

means connecting said pistons wherebythey operate simultaneously, each of said cylinders having a passage communicating with each end thereof, and two separate conduits adapted to communicate with each of said passages, said conduits bein so arran ed that gas com ressed in one en of each cylinder may be elivcred to the oppositeend of another'cylindcr, the communication between the passages of the c linders and said conduits bein controlle -by the oscillation of said c lint era.

9. internal combustion engine, comprising two cylinders, pistons operating therein, means connectm said pistons whereby they operate-simu taneous'ly, each of said cylinders having'a separate passa e communicating with the opposite enfis thereof, two conduits connecting said passages whereby gas compressed in one end of one cylinder may be delivered to the opposite end of the other cylinder, and an igmter in communication with each of said conduits.

10. An internal combustion engine, comprising two pivotally mounted cylinders, pistons operating therein, means connecting said pistons whereby they operate simultaneously, each of said c linders havin separate passages leadi tot eopposite en thereof, a port-controlling memier in eng ement with one end of each cylinder and aving separate passages adapted to be placed in communication with the passages of the cylinders-by the oscillation of the latter, and conduits connecting -said port-controlling members.

11. An internal combustion engine, comprising two .pivotally mounted cylinders,

- pistons operating therein, means connectin said pistons whereby they operate simu taneously, each of said cylinders having separate passages leading to the oplposite ends thereof, a lport-control]ing mem r in ement wit one end of each cylinder and aving separate passages adapted to be placed in communication with the pass es .of the cylinders by the oscillation of t e latter, conduits connecting said. portrcon trolling members, whereby gas, com ressed in one end' of one cylinder may be de ivered to-the opposite end of the other cylinder, and

an igniter in each-of said conduits.

' 12. An. internalcombustion engine, comprising a pivotally mounted cylm or having 'a curvedsection adjacent the pivotal sup- .port, said cylinder being provided with separate 'passages'leading from the op ite ends thereof to the curved surface 0 said curved portion, and a port-controlling member having a plurality ofpassages therein adapted to be placed in communication with 13. An internal combustion cn 'ne comof the latter, and means for resiliently supprising a pivotally mounted cylin er liaving porting said port-controllin member.

a curved section adjacent the pivotal sup- In testimony whereof I ave signed my port, said' cylinder beiniflprovided with name to this specification in the presence of 5 scpiaraif parsageslleading d m I t he op its two subscribing witn.

en s t ereo to t 0 curve an 'ace o as:

curved portion, a rt controlling member ROY havin a plurality o passages therein ad a t- Witnesses: I

ed to e placed in communication with t e Cmnus Scanner, Jr., 10 passages of said cylinder by the oscillation CLARENCE .K. 

